"Hope no evil eye hits them" - Legendary spinner hails India’s batters after ODI series win against South Africa

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh hailed the Men in Blue’s batters as the team defeated South Africa in the third and final ODI to clinch the series 2-1. The series decider was played on Saturday, December 6, in Visakhapatnam.

Chasing 271, Rohit Sharma (75 off 73) and Yashasvi Jaiswal added 155 runs for the opening wicket. Jaiswal reached his maiden hundred, remaining unbeaten on 116 off 121 balls, while Virat Kohli stayed not out on 65 off 45 balls as India sealed the game by nine wickets with 61 balls remaining.

As India clinched the series, during a discussion on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan praised Jaiswal for his hundred, noting that once he gets set, he plays a long innings. The 45-year-old also stated that India’s batting, which includes the likes of Jaiswal, Rohit, Kohli, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul, is in safe hands and added, hopefully, no evil eye hits them. He said:

“Jaiswal is a phenomenal player, I love him. Hitting Mitchell Starc in Australia off the very first ball while sitting down, brother, you need guts for that. The player has a lot of strength. He had smashed Jofra Archer too, I remember that IPL match, and this guy has a lot of calibre. And I am so happy that he came good, he scored a brilliant 100 and remained not out. The day he plays, he plays long. And this is the kind of player you need.”

“He is young, and along with being young, he also has real power, and the kind of power with which he won the match on his own. And the way he batted, I will just say this: India’s batting is in very safe hands. There is Jaiswal, Shubman, Virat, Rohit, KL, many names. And I hope no evil eye hits them, and it is good to see this dominance, the way they have won this series,” he added.

Yashasvi Jaiswal was also awarded the Player of the Match for his unbeaten century.

---

“I wish you take the decision back and start playing Test cricket” - Harbhajan Singh urges India batter to return to red-ball cricket following stellar ODI series

In the same video, Harbhajan Singh praised Virat Kohli for his brilliant performance in the ODI series while also urging the 37-year-old to return to Test cricket from retirement. Kohli was awarded the Player of the Series for scoring 302 runs in three innings at an average of 151.00 and a strike rate of 117.05, including two centuries and a fifty. He said:

“And massive massive massive congratulations to Virat Kohli. You know, the way he came in this whole series, it goes on to show that if you work hard, everything is achievable. And he sets an example for the coming generation, for everyone, that if you work hard, you will achieve everything. And this man has worked so hard.”

“Now he doesn’t play T20s, and I don’t know why he refused to play Tests. Even today I think, why is a player like Virat Kohli not playing Test cricket? We miss you, Cheeku. You are not playing Test cricket. I wish you take the decision back and start playing Test cricket because that corner looks empty, that number three-four spot feels empty. To win, you need that stubbornness, that fighting spirit which Virat brought in. Look at his fitness even today, the way he was running those twos, and in 45 balls he scored 65 runs. And the way he is in form, touchwood this will continue," he added.

In May this year, Virat Kohli retired from Test cricket after amassing 9,230 runs in 123 matches, with 30 hundreds and 31 fifties.